(AUGUST 22, 2017) Brianna May Coombs pleaded guilty in Great Falls on Tuesday to charges in connection with the death of Megan Meriwether.

Coombs pleaded guilty to felony robbery. Coombs admitted that she intended to rob Meriwether last September, but she did not expect for Meriwether to die. Court documents state that Coombs and her boyfriend, Joseph Knowles, visited Meriwether so that Coombs could buy marijuana.

During the exchange, a fight broke out between the two young women, and Knowles managed to get hold of Meriwether’s knife and struck her with it.

Coombs could face up to 40 years in prison, with 10 years suspended. Prosecutor Josh Racki said they would not charge her with felony homicide. If Coombs does not “testify honestly” against Knowles during his trial, then the plea agreement is thrown out.

The charges of tampering with evidence and solicitation to commit distribution of dangerous drugs were dismissed.

Judge John Kutzman accepted the plea, and a sentencing date has not yet been determined.

The trial for Knowles’ is scheduled to begin October 27.

Megan McKenna Meriwether

Court documents state that just after 11 p.m. on Friday, police officers responded to a report of a disturbance near 10th Street South and 8th Alley South; a 911 caller reported several people outside yelling about a knife. The caller told dispatch that several people fled in a dark vehicle.

The caller told dispatch that she found a female victim – later identified as Meriwether – lying in the alley and not breathing.

Police officers and medical personnel arrived at the scene and took Meriwether to Benefis Health System, where she was pronounced dead.

A witness to the event told investigating officers that he thought the fleeing vehicle noted by the 911 caller could have been that of his friend Joseph Knowles. The witness told officers that he and Knowles had spoken at about 10 p.m., when Knowles had asked if he could park outside of the residence to sleep. The witness told officers that Knowles was with Coombs, who is said to be Knowles’ girlfriend.

Court documents state that Knowles is known by Great Falls police officers to be homeless and lives in his vehicle, often with Coombs.

The witness then called Knowles, and Knowles reportedly said, “It was me,” and that he was scared.

According to court documents, Knowles told the witness that he was in a fight with a girl over a marijuana purchase in the alley. Knowles told him Coombs was there to buy marijuana, but did not have enough money to pay for it.

Meriwether followed Coombs to the vehicle and allegedly stabbed her in the leg; Knowles jumped out of the car and pushed Meriwether to the ground; court documents state that “…during that process (Knowles) was holding the victim’s arm.” Knowles said that the victim got stabbed in the chest with her own knife.

At that point in the phone conversation between the witness and Knowles, according to court documents, the witness told Knowles that Meriwether had died. The witness said that he heard Coombs scream in the background of the phone call at that point. The witness told Knowles that he needed to turn himself in and ask for an attorney.

Knowles replied that he was scared and wanted to run, and then ended the phone call.

About 30 minutes later, Knowles called the witness and said that he did not know what to do; the witness again urged Knowles to turn himself in, and said that running away was not the right decision.

Police officers then attempted to talk with Knowles and get him to come to the police department; Knowles eventually agreed.

Officers were able to track the vehicle that Knowles and Coombs were in and realized that they were driving away from Great Falls, according to court documents.

Knowles and Coombs were eventually found at the Ramble Inn west of Great Falls near the junction of Highway 200 and Highway 89; they were then taken to the Great Falls Police Department for questioning.

Also with Knowles and Coombs was a juvenile male, whose name is not disclosed in court documents. The young male told police that he and the two suspects were driving around on Friday night and that they went to an area near Longfellow Elementary School to meet someone.

The juvenile told police that Coombs got out of the vehicle and left, and when she returned, she was followed by Meriwether. The juvenile said that Meriwether said something to the effect of “not this time” to Coombs and attempted to get in the vehicle, but Coombs tried to close the door.

Joseph Edward Knowles

Court documents then state:

“An altercation ensued in which the victim, Meriwether, hung on to the outside of the open door of the vehicle while attempting to fight with Brianna. Joseph Knowles was driving the vehicle. Joseph drove the vehicle approximately 1.5 blocks before stopping the vehicle and the altercation continued. The juvenile male claimed that Meriwether had stabbed Brianna in the leg with a knife and that a struggle ensued over the knife. He said the knife was taken by Joseph and that it was left in the vehicle.”

Police officers then searched the site where Meriwether was found, and found several pieces of evidence. Court documents note that there were obvious signs of a struggle, as Meriwether was found with one shoe on and one off.

Meriwether also had a handful of hair in her hand at the hospital which appeared to be consistent with the hair of Coombs. When Meriwether’s body was found, it was “covered in marijuana” and a significant amount of marijuana was found in the alley where her body was found.